| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Bridleways
Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will include measures to encourage the re-establishment of bridleways in his plans for increasing access to the countryside. [16185]
Angela Eagle: We have no plans to do.
Water
Mrs. Brinton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will change the basis on which the Environment Agency forecasts regional demand for water. [16404]
Angela Eagle: At the end of August 1997, the Environment Agency issued to water companies its Water Resources Planning Guidelines. This document, which was drafted in consultation with the Office of Water Services, the water companies and my Department, includes authoritative guidance on the forecasting of demand for water in each discrete water resource zone, from which regional forecasts can be built up. The Environment Agency will update these Guidelines as it considers necessary in response to developing issues.
Coastguards
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact of recent cuts in the number of qualified coastguards on public safety. [16175]
18 Nov 1997 : Column: 134
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Under the Focus for Change review the number of Coastguard officers appropriately qualified increased by some 120. The result is more uniformed regular Coastguards in service than nearly a decade ago. The intention of these measures is to enhance the level of safety of the seagoing and coastal communities and public at large.
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the research evaluated by his Department since 1995 on (a) endocrine-disrupting compounds and (b) oestrogenic chemicals. [16177]
Angela Eagle:
My Department, with the assistance of recognised experts in the field, continually evaluates the research published on endocrine disrupting chemicals in the environment. Where gaps in the available information have been identified research is being planned to address those gaps. The Department's research plans are published annually and the Department's policy is that the results of its research are disseminated externally. Details of individual projects are publicly available on request and also on the Department's research project database to which the House of Commons Library has online access.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the contribution of the air traffic sector towards meeting the Government's target of a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010. [16186]
Mr. Bennett:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport, and the Regions what assessment he has made of the contribution which could be made by cars to the target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 2010 compared to 1990 levels. [14871]
Mr. Prescott:
After the climate convention in December, we shall consult on a programme which will take account of our 20 per cent. and the outcome of Kyoto. Measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from road transport are an important element of our transport policy review and will form part of a balanced climate change programme.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's support for road safety education programmes for school pupils; and what plans he has to promote pedestrian training at primary schools.[16342]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions recognises that children, especially pedestrians, are a particularly vulnerable group of road users and as such are a road safety priority. Road safety education both inside and outside school is an integral part of our approach to reducing road accidents amongst children complementing publicity, enforcement and engineering measures.
18 Nov 1997 : Column: 135
My Department works closely with local authority road safety professionals, voluntary and commercial organisations and other Government Departments to encourage road safety education. In 1995, the Department produced Good Practice Guidelines for Road Safety Education in Schools and we are, at present, carrying out a review of the provision of road safety education in schools throughout Great Britain.
Despite a good overall road safety record, Great Britain has a relatively poor child pedestrian safety record. Research has shown that practical approaches to child pedestrian training, in small groups at the roadside, are the most effective at improving child pedestrian skills. My Department has used this approach to develop and evaluate two practical child pedestrian training schemes--"Let's Decide Walkwise" and "Kerbcraft". In addition this Department and the Department of Health have jointly funded the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents to produce a video resource--Step Forward--to encourage schools and adult volunteers to participate in local authority pedestrian training schemes.
The Government are committed to reducing car dependency, and in particular, the number of children being driven to school. We are supportive of projects which encourage children to walk and cycle in safety and take the bus to school. The DETR is currently funding research in this area. We are also providing capital resources to a number of local authority transport packages which include safer routes to schools projects. The current fundamental review of transport will be examining journeys to school in conjunction with other Government Departments.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action his Department is taking to promote the wearing of helmets by cyclists; and if he will make a statement. [16343]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Department's Cycle Safe campaign includes the production of posters and educational literature which promote the wearing of cycle helmets. Publicity is distributed to local Road Safety Officers, teachers and the police. Advice to wear helmets is contained in the Highway Code and the Highway Code for Young Road Users. One million copies of the Young Road Users Code are distributed free each year to schools.
We encourage local authorities to co-ordinate what they are doing on cycle safety publicity with the Department's campaign so that the messages are reinforced. We will continue to review ways of promoting the wearing of cycle helmets and wearing rate surveys will be made to determine the success of local and national campaigns.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the potential of compressed air powered vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [16331]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
None.
18 Nov 1997 : Column: 136
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to use government buildings other than Admiralty Arch and buildings available for use by members of the Government to house the homeless during the Christmas period. [16159]
Mr. Raynsford:
The Government have a Winter Shelter Programme as part of the Rough Sleepers Initiative. This year the Winter Shelter Programme covers London, Bristol and Cambridge. Each year both the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the voluntary agencies work closely with the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE), and other Government Departments, to identify suitable buildings from the Government estate for use as winter shelters for rough sleepers. It is particularly important to locate suitable buildings which will ensure a wide geographical spread of winter shelters.
We are currently assessing the bids we have received from the voluntary sector for funding to manage winter shelters as part of the Rough Sleepers Initiative and will make an announcement shortly on the bids which have been successful.
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to improve the energy efficiency standards of homes.[14861]
Angela Eagle:
The Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 requires local authorities to implement strategies for improving domestic energy efficiency in all sectors by 30 per cent. over a 10-15 year period. The Government and Energy Saving Trust will continue to support them in this through pump-priming assistance for innovative approaches, and through disseminating advice and best practice. The Trust has also established an energy efficiency programme, involving all sectors of the industry in providing financial incentives, information and advice for householders, and a comprehensive training package for installers and retailers.
Over 2.5 million low-income, disabled and elderly households have been helped to improve their homes through grants under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme. We will continue to build on this in tackling fuel poverty through a range of policies. Energy conservation has been specified as a priority area in the design of the Environmental Task Force option of the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds, and in the capital receipts initiative for local authorities.
Our current review of the Housing Fitness Standard includes consideration of how best to incorporate energy efficiency requirements. We have also just initiated a review of Part L of the Building Regulations, which deals with energy efficiency of new homes. The aim of the review is to establish the maximum possible contribution that can be made by the Regulations to the Government's target of a 20 per cent. reduction on 1990 levels of CO2 emissions by the year 2010, whilst observing proportionality and flexibility for designers, and avoiding
18 Nov 1997 : Column: 137
unreasonable technical risks or excessive cost. The review will be wide ranging, encompassing not just homes, but non-domestic buildings as well.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |